Apparatus for applying coating material to pipe



Jan. 20, 1953 s. 1.. RICHARDS. JR 2,625,905

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING COATING MATERIAL TO PIPE Tiled April 15, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ea E H 40 i I:

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Sidhey eRichavJsJv BY A++orn a y APPARATUS FOR APPLYING COATING MATERIAL T0 PIPE Filed April 15, 1950 S. L. RICHARDS, JR

Jan. 20, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

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Jan. 20, 1953 s. RICHARDS, JR 2,625,905

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING COATING MATERIAL TO PIPE Filed April 13, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENT0R.- SidneyLee Richavlg jn Afio y Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT (TI FI'CJE'.

APPARATUS FOE APPLYING COATING MATERIAL TO PIPE Sidney Lee Richards, J12, Corpus Christi, Tex., assignor to Hussein-Richards Processing '00., Inc., Corpus Christi, Tex., a. corporation Application April 13, 1950, Serial ,No. 155,721.51

3 Claims. 1 This inven i n r lates t apparatu for pplying coating material to pipe, and more particua ly t a mach ne f r r ating pip wher y t same may be coated with concrete or the like.

he invention s s ecial applioa n n h p epa n of "p p f r u e in t e stru t on of pipe lines in which certain, portions or" th 'line must be weighted, as by coating the same with n r te, to p e t oat ng in ater r n locations where the soil is in a condition to produce abuoyant effect on such pipe,

It is the principal object of the invention to provide coating apparatus embodying mechanism for supporting pipe in position to "be coated, and

rotating and moving the pipe while applying the coating material to the same, whereby a layer of material of substantially uniform thickness may be pplied throu hout the nt re area coated.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for continuously feeding coating material to the zone of application of the same, in-accordance with the rate of'rotation and longitudinal movement of the pipe, to assure uniformity of the coating thereon.

Another object of the invention is :to provide, in coating apparatus of the type referred to, means for accurately adjusting the relationship between the feeding mechanism and the pipe being coated, in order to minimize waste of coating material and assure uniformity of the coating obtained.

Another object of the invention is to provide coating apparatus embodying means for mixing the coating material and continuously feeding the same to the zone of application, and means for returning waste material for remixi g with additional coating material to be fed to the zone of application.

Another object is the provision in coating apparatus of means for controlling the mixing, feeding, and rcturningmechanism, as well as the rotation and movement of the pipe, so that the iunctioning of the apparatus may be coordinated to securethe most efficient and-economical productionof coated pipe.

A still further object is to provide pipe coating apparatus of simple design and rugged construction capable of withstanding the hard conditions of use and exposure to which such apparatus is likely to be subjected.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will 'beapparent from the following detailed description, constituting a specification of the same when "taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View of the in.- vention taken along the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 3 is a perspective view partly broken away, showing the concrete delivering and ap!- plying means, together with the power plant and driving means for the same, with parts of the remaining structure of the machine including uniessential details of the same removed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view partly broken away, showing the return mechanism for waste material, together with .the .powerzp lantand driviing means for such mechanism, with-partsof'the remaining structure of the machine and uneasential details of the same removed; and

Figure .5 is a detail side ielev tional vieW,.-. a somewhat enlarged scale, showing the struo 1 details of the brush adjusting means ore-the 1:

vention.

The invention, br efl d scribed, .eomprises mech ism for support n nine orizont r tati n about its lon itudinal and a. ins th pipe wh le sor ins. spaced lat t conc e e plyin pparatus i cluding oncr t feed ng and s raying eans and re urn means for Waste material.

r ng t the drawings in g eater detai the invention includes pipe supporting and ro t ng h ism, b sts en n F ur herein t e n me al H) d a e a dri ng car iage and I2 ind cates e ri en carr age. sa d a ri .5 Jo ins operatively connected to move alone-e t ee way h ng rai s and to :rot tably supports ipe, uch as is. indica ed at it to e moved pas the c cre e apply ng apparatus and r tated in pac d relat on the to.

The driving carriage H1 is preferably of genorally rectangu ar construction and carr s ac p rs o h e s 18 a d 2.0 mou ted on a ts 22 and r spectively, which sha ts are iou n lled in suitable b ngs atta h wheels of the pairs are preferably provided with rubber tires o ngag me t w hth pi e to a sure rotation of the pipe. Both of the .carriages are preferably provided with grooved wheelsfas indicated at 32, whereby the carriages may be moved along the rails I4.

A connector beam 34 is fixedly secured to the carriage I and is adjustably attached to the carriage I2, by suitable clamping means 36, so that the distance between the carriages may be adjusted to accommodate different lengths of pipe and the carriages are securely connected to be moved as a unit along the track.

From an inspection of Figure 1 of the drawing, it will be apparent that the pipe supporting and rotating mechanism described above makes it possible to support pipes of different length and diameters on the carriages, and rotate such pipes while moving the same along the track past the concrete applying apparatus in spaced relation thereto.

The concrete feedingand applying apparatus includes a mixing and feeding drum, indicated at 40, mounted on a supporting frame 42 for rotation on flanged rollers 44 journalled on the frame. The drum is rotated by means of suitable driving means such as a ring gear 46 and chain 48 through driving mechanism later to be described in greater detail.

Within the drum inwardly extending vanes 50 are provided, such that material in the drum is mixed by rotation of the same, and portions of such material are lifted by the vanes to the top of the drum from whence the material falls into a feeding hopper 52 inside the drum. 'The ends of the drum may be partly open and the hopper 52 is supported inside the drum by the tube 54 of a screw conveyor which projects through one end of the drum. A circular plate 53 may be supported in the end of the drum 40 by attachment to the tube 54 or otherwise, as shown in Figure 3. Mixed concrete from a concrete mixer, not shown, enters the drum 40 by way of the chute 58 of the concrete mixer and the chute 60 extending into the drum, as seen in Figure 2.

A feeding screw 62 is rotatably supported in the tube 54 and feeds the concrete from the hopper 52 into a second conveyor in the tube 64 having a feeding screw 66 rotatable therein, whereby the concrete is fed to a pair of high speed revolving brushes 68 and I0 mounted on horizontal shafts l2 and i4, respectively, by which brushes the concrete is propelled against the surface of the pipe I6. The brushes 68 and may be made adjustable toward and away from each other by suitable means, such as shown in Figure 5, so that the distance between the brushes may be varied as deslredand so that the brushes may be adjusted with relation to the axis of the pipe being coated.

Beneath the pipe I6 there is adjustably posicrete fading from the pipe, and having one end of a feeding screw 80 therein whereby waste material is conveyed through the tube 82 extending into the end of the drum, back to the interior of the drum 40. The tube 82 has a rack 84 athopper "I8 in position beneath the pipe.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the brushes 68 and 10 are partially enclosed by a casing attached to the conveyor tube 64 and having hinged sides as indicated at 90 and a hinged top 92. The sides 90 are formed with arcuate cut out portions, so that pipe I6 may pass therethrough in spaced relation to the brushes 68 and I0, and the sides and top will serve to partially confine the concrete as the same is propelled against the pipe, to prevent spattering and waste of the coating material.

The crushes may be made adjustable by an arrangement such as that shown in Figure 5, wherein spaced apart vertical guides 69 and II are fixed to the sides of the casing in spaced relation thereto, and bearings 13 and I5 for the shafts I2 and I4 are slidably disposed between the guides. The bearings are adjusted by screws 11 'tioned a hopper I8, adapted to receive waste conand I9 carried in brackets BI and 83 welded or otherwise secured between the guides at'their upper and lower ends, the screws being provided with lock nuts and 87.

The entire concrete applying apparatus may conveniently be supported on a frame indicated at 94 in Figure 2 whereby the apparatus can be positioned adjacent the rails I4 and spaced therefrom as may be desired.

The concrete feeding mechanism and a power plant and driving connections for the apparatus may be carried on a platform 06 resting on the supporting frame 94. The power plant is indicated at 98, positioned near one end of the platform 96, which power plant may take the form of an internal combustion engine or other suitable prime mover, having a rotatable driving shaft I00 operatively connnected therewith. At its outer end the shaft I00 is supported in a suitable bearing I02, and at spaced intervals on the shaft pulleys I04, I66 and I08 are carried thereon. Pulley I64 is connected through the intermediation of a driving belt IIO to pulleys H2 and H4 fixed on shafts I2 and I4, respectively, to drive the high speed brushes 68 and 10. Belt III] also passes about idler pulleys I I6 and H8 to maintain the same in engagement with pulleys II 2 and H4 and under proper tension,

Pulley I06 is connected by drive belt I20 with a pulley I22 on shaft I24 of a speed reducer mechanism I26 which is operatively coupled by a clutch I28 with a shaft I30 carrying sprockets I32 and I34 thereon. Shaft I24 is supported at its outer end in a bearing I36.

Sprocket I 32 operates through a drive chain I30 passing over sprockets I40 and I42, to rotate a telescoping shaft I44, which in turn operates through universal joints I46 and I 48 to turn a gear I50 located in a gear box I52 attached to the hopper 18. Gear I58 meshes with a gear I54 which meshes with a gear I56 attached to the feed screw 88 to rotate this screw for returning waste concrete from the hopper 18 through tube 82 to the drum 40.

Sprocket I36 is connected by means of drive chain I58 to a sprocket I60 mounted on a shaft I62 journalled in bearings I64 and I56 mounted on the frame 42. Shaft I 62 carries a sprocket I58 thereon over which passes drive chain 48 which also passes about the ring gear 46, whereby the drum 40 is rotated.

Thus it will be seen that by operating the clutch I28 the rotation of the drum 40 and the operation of the waste concrete return conveyor can be controlled. A link mechanism including a rotatable shaft I22 and operating lever I14 therefor is connected to the clutch I28 for manual control of the same.

The rotation of the pulley I08 with shaft I00 is controlled by a clutch I18 whose engagement and disengagement is accomplished by a lever I80 suitably connected thereto. Pulley I08 operatesdrive'belt I82 which passes about pulley I 84 attached to the shaft I86 of a variable speed unit I88-of conventional construction. The variable speed unit is operatively connected to a right angle drive speed reducer I90 also of conventional design which drives a sprocket I92 connected by a drive chain I94 with sprocket I96 'on a shaft I91, carried in space bearings I98 and 200, mounted on brackets suitably secured to adjacent supporting structure. Shaft I96 carries sprockets 202 and 204 thereon.

Sprocket 202 is connected by a drive chain 206 to sprocket 208 fixed on the shaft of the feed screw 62 in the tube 54, and sprocket 204 is connected by drive chain M0 to sprocket 212 fixed on the shaft of feed screw 66 in tube '64.

As will be evident from an examination of Figure *3, the lever 180 may be manually operated to engage or disengage the clutch I18 thus controlling the rotation of the pulley I08 and the operation of the feed screws 62 and 66 at will.

A clutch 2I4 on the shaft I00, located at the prime mover .98 is controlled by a lever 2I6 through a rod 218 connected to a lever 220, whereby the rotation of shaft I00 can be .controlled when it is desired to stop :or start "the entire concrete applying apparatus.

Means is provided for moving the-pipe supporting carriages I0 and I2along the track, which means is particularly illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. A reel 222 is shown attached to the carriage Ill, upon which reel an operating chain 224 is wound. The chain may be unreeled to any desired extent and the reel locked against rotation by a conventional ratchet and pawl mechanism 226 or any suitable means, and the end of the chain secured to the carriage I2 in any suitable manner as indicated at 228. The chain passes through actuating mechanism mounted on the platform 96, as seen in Figure 4 which mechanism includes an upper sprocket 230 and lower sprockets 232 and 234 rotating in suitable bearings mounted on the platform. The chain is engaged by the sprockets so that upon rotation of the same the chain is pulled in one direction or the other to propel the carriages along the track. The sprockets 230, 232 and 234 may be driven through the intermediation of a reversible gear mechanism operated by a sprocket 236, which is rotated by a drive chain 238 passing over a sprocket 24% mounted on a shaft 242 carried in bearings 244 and 246. Shaft 242 carries a pulley 248 connected by a drive belt 250 to a pulley 25I fixed on a shaft 252 driven by the speed reducer mechanism I26. Conventional clutch means may be operatively interposed between the sprocket 236 and the sprockets 230, 232 and 234, which clutch means is operable by a lever 254 connected to a bell crank 256 by a rod 258, the bell crank being in turn connected to the clutch means by rod 260. Thus upon engaging the clutch by movement of the lever 254 the sprockets 230, 232, and 234 are caused to turn by rotation of the shaft I00 and actuate the chain whereby the carriages are moved along the track feeding the rotating pipe past the concrete applying apparatus.

In making use of the invention as described above, the carriages I0 and I2 are adjusted to the right distance apart to accommodate the length of the pipe to be coated, by releasing the clamp ing device 36 moving the carriages to the proper distance and retightening the clamp. The pipe is then placed horizontally on the pairs of .supporting wheels on the carriages, and rotated thereon by operation of the motor 26 at suitable speed.

The shaft I50 is set in rotation through operationof the prime mover 98, and the clutch I28 engaged by movement of the lever I74, thereby starting the drum 40 to rotate and setting in motion the return feed screw 80 for returning waste material from the hopper 18 to the drum 40.

The concrete feeding mechanism is then set in operation by engaging the "clutch I18 by .movement of lever I80, which starts rotation of the feed screws 62 and 66, and since the brushes 68 and 10 are already rotating from the shaft I00, the concrete is propelled onto the pipe. By movement of lever 254, to engage the clutch means through which the sprockets 230, 232 and 234 are driven, the carriages are propelled along the track carrying the rotating pipe along in front of the brushes, thus completely coating the surface of the pipe to any desired degree.

In the event that a pipe of different diameter is to be coated, it is merely necessary to change the position of the return hopper I8 by turning hand wheel 81, which operates shaft carrying pinion 86, which by cooperation with rack 84 moves the tube 82 inwardly or outwardly until the desired position is reached.

A brush 262 may be attached to the hinged top 92 of the brush enclosing casing, which brush engages the coating on the pipe to aid in distributing the material evenly over the surface of the pipe, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3.

It will be apparent from the above description that the invention provides a pipe coating machine by which pipes of any desired length and diameter can be conveniently coated with concrete or the like to any desired thickness, and which is easily adjusted and controlled to operate with a maximum of facility and a minimum of expenditure of time and labor.

The invention has been disclosed in connection with a particular embodiment of the same, but it will be understood that this is for the purpose of illustration only, and numerous changes can be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. An apparatus for coating pipes and the like comprising supporting means rotatively carrying the pipe to be coated, said supporting means being movable in the direction of the axis of the pipe, a rotatable mixing drum for coating material, means for rotating the drum, a conveyor tube in communication with the drum, a pair of cylindrical brushes rotatably mounted to receive between them coating material from the d1scharge end of the conveyor tube and propel said material against the pipe, means for rotating the brushes, a feed screw rotatably mounted in the conveyor tube, means for rotating the feed screw to feed coating material to the brushes, a movably supported return tube opening into the drum, a hopper carried by said return tube and located beneath said pipe for receiving excess coating material from the pipe, said return tube being in communication with the hopper, means for moving the return tube to adjust the position of the hopper beneath the pipe, a return screw rotatably mounted in the return tube, means for rotating the return screw to convey excess coating material from the hopper to the drum, and driving means for effecting rotation of the pipe and longitudinal movement of said supporting means relative to said brushes.

2. An apparatus for coating pipes and the like comprising supporting means rotativ-ely carrying the pipe to be coated, said supporting means being movable in the direction of the axis of the pipe, a mixing drum for coating material, means for rotating the drum, a conveyor tube extending into the drum, a hopper in the drum mounted on the conveyor tube and in communication therewith, means in the drum operabl upon rotation of the drum to feed coating material into the hopper, a pair of cylindrical brushes rotatably mounted to receive between them coating material from the discharge end of said conveyor tube and propel said material against the pipe, a feed screw rotatably mounted in the conveyor tube, means for rotating the feed screw to feed coating material from the hopper to the brushes, a movably supported return tube extending at one end into the drum, a receiver on the other end of the return tube located beneath the pipe and adapted to receive excess coating material from the pipe, means for moving the return tube to adjust the position of the receiver beneath the pipe, a return screw rotatably mounted in the return tube, means for rotating the return screw to convey excess coating material from the receiver to the drum, and driving means for effecting rotation of the pipe and longitudinal movement of the supporting means relative to the brushes.

3. An apparatus for coating pipes and the like comprising supporting means being movable in the direction of the axis of the pipe, means for actuating said supporting means to rotate the pine and move the pipe longitudinally of its axis, a rotatably mounted mixing drum for coating material, means for actuating said drum, a conveyor tube extending into the drum, a hopper in the drum mounted on the conveyor tube in position to receive mixed coating material, means in the drum operable upon rotation of the drum to feed coating material into the hopper, a pair of cylindrical brushes rotatably mounted to receive between them coating material from the discharge end of said conveyor tube and to propel said material against the pipe, a feed screw rotatably mounted in the conveyor tube, means for actuating the feed screw to feed coating material from the hopper to the brushes, a movably supported return tube extending at one end into the drum, a receiver on the other end of the return tube located beneath the pipe and. adapted to receive excess coating material from the pipe, means for moving the return tube to adjust the position of the receiver beneath the pipe, a return screw rotatably mounted in the return tube, means for actuating the return screw to convey excess coating material from the receiver to the drum, a source of power, and means operatively connecting said actuating means with said source and operable to efiect simultaneous operation of said actuating means.

SIDNEY LEE RICHARDS, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,062,124 Flaws Nov. 24, 1936 2,074,892 Derry Mar. 23, 1937 2,194,268 Cummings Mar. 19, 1940 2,264,048 McMahon et al Nov. 25, 1941 2,303,088 Perkins Nov. 24, 1942 2,310,603 Taylor Feb. 9, 1943 2,352,749 Wills July 4, 1944 2,380,499 Brend July 31, 1945 2,401,431 Lewis June 4, 1946 2,503,170 Plos Apr. 4, 1950 

